Folding box



July 25, 1944. KRETCHMER 2,354,600

FOLDING BOX Filed Aug. 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

IN VENT OR.

; BY MURRAY KRETCHMER July 25, 1944. M. KRETCHMER 2,354,600

FOLDING BOX Filed Aug. 22 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 P I 70 j FIGB.

INVENTOR,

MURRA v KRE TCHMEIL Erma/vex Patented July 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,354,600 FOLDING BOX Murray Kretchmer, New York, N. Y.

' Application August 22, 1941, Serial No. 407,920

Claims.

This invention relates to folding boxes.

An object of this invention is to generally improve the type of boxshown in my co-pending application Serial No. 355,472, filed September5, 1040, for Folding boxes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a box of the characterdescribed, having top cover sections formed with mutually contactingupstanding handles extending substantially all the way'across the top ofthe box, so as to strengthen and rigidity the top of the box, and toprevent the top of the box from being bowed upwardly.

, Yet a further object of the present'invention' is to provide a box ofthe character described, having a bottom section, end sections extendingupwardly from the ends of the bottom section, side sections extendingupwardly from the sides of the bottom section, interlocking tabs at onepair of adjacent ends of the end sections located. against the innersurface of one of the side sections, a cover section extending from theother side section, and sections extending from the ends of said coversection interconnected to the other pair of adjacent ends of the endsections by hinges.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a box of thecharacter described, a pair of top cover sections having mutuallycontacting upstanding handles, and having improved means forinterlocking the ends of the handles to prevent the handles fromseparating, and tearing at the points of stress.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a box of thecharacter described having mutually contacting, upstanding handles, apair of tabs cut from the handles to provide openings for the fingers ofthe person carrying the box, the tab on one cover section being foldablebeneath the other cover section, and the other tab being foldable abovethe first cover section, and said first cover section being slitted toreceive the last mentioned tab.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a folding box ofthe character described, in which one of the cover sections has hooks atthe ends thereof adapted to interlock within slits in the end walls ofthe box, and the other cover section having tabs adapted to overlie thehooks, said tabs being provided with tongues adapted to slip straightdownwardly into said slits.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a box of thecharacter described having top sections provided with mutuallycontacting, upwardly extending handles, one of the cover sections beingformed at the upper ends thereof with flaps extending beyond said coversections, said flaps being provided with inwardly extending tabsdisposed between said flaps and the handle on said cover section, 'saidflaps being adapted to engage the handle on the other cover section, topress the handles together, and said other cover section being formedwith slits to receive the end portions of said tabs, to retain said tabsagainst said cover section, the slits in said other cover section beingso positioned and shaped, as to retain said tabs against said handle onsaid other cover section.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, compactand durable box of the character described, which may be partially setup and nested in partially set up condition, which shall be easy tocompletely fold and collapse, which shall be sturdy and rugged andadapted to carry considerable weight, which will not unfoldaccidentally, which will be highly economical to manufacture, and yetpractical and eflicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described,

and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the box embodying theinvention is made;

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of a box partially set up;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a box illustrating a further step insetting up the box;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a completely set up box;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line- 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a blank for making a box embodying theinvention, and illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the set up box made-from the blankshownin Fig. '7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 designates a blank formaking a box Ii shown in completely set up condition in Fig. 4 of thedraw ings. The blank I comprises a rectangular bottom section I2,forming the'bottom wall of the box II. Extending from the ends ofsection I2 are similar, symmetrically disposed sections I3 forming theend walls of said box.

The sections I3 are formed with similar. symmetrically disposed slitsI3a, each compris ng a curved portion I 3b. from one end of which thereextends an inwardly and then outwardly curved portion I3c,.thus forminga depressible tab I3d and a shoulder portion I3e for the purposehereinafter appearing. Extending from adjacent sides of end sections I3.are mutually interlocking sections I39 and I3h, adapted to extendinwardly toward each other and against the in ner face of one of theside walls I4. Said sections I31; and I3h are provided with interlockinghooks I31 and I37, respectively. The hook I37 extends downwardly fromthe upper edge of section I3h. whereas hook I3i extends upwardly from apoint above the lower end of section I3g. as clearly shown in Fig. l ofthe draw ngs.

Extending from the sides of section I2 are side sections I4, forming theside walls of the box. Extending from the sections I4 are top coversections I5 and I6, each having the same length as sections I2, butsubstantially half the'width thereof. The sections I5 and I6 togetherform the top of the box.

Section I5 is formed adjacent the upper portion thereof with a centralslit II having a portion I8 parallel to the crease lines I5a and I6a.about which the cover sections fold. The ends of slit portion I8 arecurved outwardly, as at I9. Extending from the center of slit portionI8, is a. short slit portion 20, extending outwardly in a directionperpendicular to' the fold lines I5a and I6a.

Adjacent the ends of section I5 are a pair of similar, symmetricallydisposed slits 23, each comprising a portion 24 inclined relative to thefold line I5a. At one end of slit portion 24 is an outwardly extending,short slit portion 25 forming a sharp corner 26 at one end of slit 23.At the other end of slit portion 24, is a short. outwardly curged slitportion 26. At the center of slit portion 24, is a short slit portion29. extending generally in a direction toward the outer corner ofsection I5.

Extending from cover section I5 is a handle section 32, preferablyextending the full length of cover section I5, and foldable about creaselines 33. Handle section 32 is formed with a pair of spaced, circularfinger openings 35. Said handle section is furthermore formed with aslit 36 between the circular openings 35, forming a tab 3' I foldablebeneath the cover section I6, when the box is set up, as will appearhereinafter.

The tab 31 has a head at its outer end, and a constricted neck portionjust beyond its inner end, forming a pair of inwardly extending ears ordetents 38 spaced above the fold line 33, for the purpose hereinafterappearing. The ends of the handle 32 may be rounded, as at 40, asillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Extending from cover I6 is a handle section 42 having the same width ashandle 32, and formed with cut-out circular openings 43, adapted toregister with the openings 35. The bandle 42 is formed with a centralslit 44 producing formed when the tab 31 is pushed beneath cover sectionI6.

The. tab 45 has a constricted neck portion adjacent the fold line 46,and said neck portion is adapted to engage beneath the detents 3B whichserve to hold the said tab downwardly on cover section I5. The outer endof tab 45 may be slipped through the slit I1 so that the outer endthereof projects beneath cover section I5. The central slit portion 20of slit I1 and the slit portions I9 of said slit, facilitate insertionof the tab 45 therethrough.

It will be noted that tab 3! is of less height than tab 45, so that theupper edge of the open- '.ng through which the fingers are inserted,formed by slit 36, is at a lower level than the lower edge of theopening formed by the slit 44 of handle 42. The fingers thus engage thehandle 32 which bears the major portion of the weight of the box, whenthe box is carried, as said handle is on the cover section I5, which hasportions located beneath the cover sections I6 and is thus held down bycover sections I6, it is preferable to have the major part of the weightcarried by the handle 32 rather than the handle 42, since a strongupward pull on the handle 42 might pull up on the cover section I6, andcause said cover section to be bowed upwardly or the ends thereof mighttear. This construction takes the stress away from the junctions betweenthe ends of handles 42 and cover section I6.

The ends of handle 42 are symmetrical with respect to one another. Ateach end is an edge portion 41, spaced inwardly from the outer ends ofcover section I6, and perpendicular to the fold line I6a. Extending fromeach portion 47 is a generally outwardly extending edge portion 48,substantially parallel to fold line l6a, Extending from edge portion 48is an edge portion 49, generally inclined outwardly and towards sectionI4. The inclined edge 49 terminates short of the fold line 46, andextending therefrom is an edge 50 parallel to fold line 46 and about toin length .on ordinary cake boxes. Extending from the outer end of edge50 is a short edge 50a flush with the upper and lower ends of coversections I6, and extending to the fold line 46. The handle 42 thus hasnarrow end portions 5| adjacent the fold line 46.

Extending from the upper and lower ends of cover section I6, aresimilar, symmetrically disposed sections 60 foldable about fold lines6I, at the ends of sections I6. The width of section 60 is substantiallysimilar to the combined widths of sections I6 and 42. The lengths ofsections 60 is however less than the heights of sections I3. The outeredges 62 of sections 60 are thus flush with the outer edge 42a of handlesection 42. At the 'outer corners of section 60, are short tongues 60a,extending straight downwardly when the box is folded and engageablewithin the slit portions I3b of slits I3a, as shown in Fig. 4 ofthe-drawings.

Extending inwardly from sections 60, are tabs 63 formed by cutting theouter edges of the handle section 42. Thus, the inner edges of tabs 63are similar to the outer edges of handle 42. When the box is set up, thetabs 63 are adapted to press the handle sections 32 and 42 together.Thus, when the handle 42 is folded upwardly, slots are formed betweenthe bases of the tab 63 and the upwardly extending handles 42, toreceive, enclose and engage the outer ends of handle 32 for pressing thehandles together, as clear- ,tate insertion of the hooks within saidslits.

It will be noted further that the provision of ly illustrated in Fig. 4of the drawings. Furthermore, such construction provides tear stops toprevent tearing of ends of handle 82 along crease lines 80a at the endsof section II.

The tabs 3 overlie the cover section I i, and the inner ends thereof areinserted through the slits 23, being engaged at the corners 2' formed bysaid slits, to hold the tabs against the handle 32.

Sections 9.0 are interconnected to section II by similar, symmetricallydisposed hinges 10. Each hinge It comprises three substantiallytriangular sections H, [2 and 13. Section 12 exteudsirom fold line Ilaat the end of the side section l4. Section II extends from fold line H aat one side of section II. Section II extends from fold line 60b at oneside of section til. Section II is in-' terconnected to section 12 byscored line 14. Section 12 is interconnected to section 13 by scoredline I5.

Tab 63 also serves to keep down the cover l4, so that it is notnecessary to hook sections SI to the end walls It.

When the box is set up, sections 12 fold against the inner surface ofthe adjacent section i4. Sections 13 fold against the outer surfaces ofsection 12 and between the sections 12 and H.

Extending from the ends of cover section I5 are similar, symmetricallydisposed hook sections- 80 adapted to be folded downwardly against thethe slits "a for interlocking the shoulders lie. The tabs lid may bepressed inwardly to tacit:-

e width of the hooks I is substantially the same as the combined widthsof sections l and 32, although it could be less if desired. The heightof the hooks is less than the height of sections I 3 and is preferablyof such height as to contact bottom wall l2 when the box is set up. Saidhook sections 80 have hooking heads 8| for engaging' the shoulders He.

The setting up of box U will now be described:

Sections Hg and I311 are first interlocked bringing the walls Itupwardly, so that a plurality of boxes may be nested in such partiallyset up condition. After the sections By and Bit are interlocked, thesection M which carries the cover section i5 is folded upwardly and thehook sections 80 are interlocked within the slits lid. The tab 31 isthen pressed downwardly and the other section II is raised, permittingthe hinges to fold against tthe inner surface of said section. Coversection I is then brought to the top of the box while sections 60 extenddownwardly against the outer sides of the hook sections 80. The tongues"a are inserted within the slits Ila.

Care should be taken that the tab 31 passes beneath cover section I8.The handles 32 and 42 are brought together in upstanding position, andtab 45' is passed through the opening in handle 32 and interlockedbeneath the ears 38. The outer end of tab 45 is then passed through theslit II. The tabs 63 are then passed around the ends of the handle 32and engaged within'the slits 23.

It will be noted that the handles extend entirely across the box, so asto rigidity the top of the box and to prevent bowing of the top of thebox. Furthermore, such construction strengthens the handles themselves.It will now be further understood that the tabs 63 are retained on coversection l5 and held against handle 22 to press said handle against thehandle 42.

tab 31 prevents weakening of the box by slit 2|. The box may be openedby first ,releasing the tab 45 and the tab 63, so that one side of thebox may be opened up substantially to the position shown in Fig. 3 topermit the cake or pie,

or other contents of the box to be slidably moved 7 out of the box,without necessity for collapsing the entire box. It will be furtherunderstood that the interlocking sections itgf' llh are at one side ofthe box only. The combination of the interlocking tabs Hg, I372. withthe hinges 10, produce a strong and yet easily set up box.

Furthermore, the fact that only the tabs II have to be interlockedwithin the slits Ila, facilitates setting up the box, since it takesless time to merely pass the tongues 60a through said slits, withoutnecessity for interhooking within said slits.

In Figs. '7 and 8 there is shown a blank 90 for making a. box 9|embodying the invention, and illustrating a modified constructionusually for smaller boxes. The blank 90 differs from blank It in thefollowing manner. Hinged sections H of blank iii are omitted in theblank 90, so that the hinges 10a comprise sections 12a and 13acorresponding to the sections 12 and II.

Furthermore, the sections 92 of blank which correspond to the sections60 of blank l0, do not have ,the tongues 60a, but are merely rounded attheir outer corners. Furthermore, in blank 90, the handle openingsarewide enough to receive more than two fingers. Thus, the circularopenings 45 and 43 are omitted. Said handles are formed with tabs 31aand 45a corresponding to the tabs 31 and 45 of blank iii. The tabs 21aand 45a are however wider than the tabs 31, 45.

Furthermore, in blank 90, the slit I1 is omitted, and instead coversection 94, corresponding to cover section I 5, is formed with apair ofsimilar, symmetrically disposed-slits 95 adapted to receive a pair ofears 96 on the ends of tabs 45a.

As shown in the drawings, hooks I00 which correspond to hooks 80 of.Fig. 1, are of a width substantially equal to the width of a coversection, and the slits liil, corresponding to slits I36 of Fig. 1', arepositioned to receive the heads of said hooks. This construction is forextremely large or extremely small boxes. In large boxes, the bases ofthe hooks would be too long to fold easily. In small boxes, the width ofthe hooks must be less than the width of the box.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, end wallsextending upwardly from said bottom wall, side walls extending upwardlyfrom the sides of said bottom wall, means to lock said end walls inupright position, cover sections extending inwardly from said sidewalls, mutually contacting upstanding handles extending from said coversections, one of said cover sections being formed with a :pair ofdownwardly extending sections at the ends thereof, hinges.

connecting said downwardly extending sections with the other of saidside walls, said handles extending substantially entirely across the topof said box, and a pair of tabs on said downwardly extending sectionsadjacent the ends of one of the handles, adapted to interlock the otherof 7 said handles.

2. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls. said end walls, having slits, a pair of coversections extending from the side walls and formed with mutuallycontacting upstanding handles, said handles extending substantiallyentirely across the top of the box, sections extending from the coversection having tongues received in said slits, and tabs on the sectionextending from one cover and located adjacent the ends of the handleextending from said cover, forming with said handle, slots receiving theends of the other handle, said tabs overlying the other cover, saidother cover being formed with slits to receive portions of said tabs,said slits being shaped to form edge portions in said other cover toengage edge portions of said tabs and retain said tabs in engagementwith said other handle.

3. A box of the charatcer described, comprising a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls, a pair of cover sections extending from the sidewalls and formed with mutually contacting upstanding handles, saidhandles extending substantially entirely across the top of the box, andtabs connected to sections extending from one cover and located adjacentthe ends of the handle extending from said cover, forming with saidhandle, slots receiving the ends of the other handle, said tabsoverlying the other cover, said other cover being formed with slits toreceive portions of said tabs, said slits being shaped to form edgeportions in said other cover to engage edge portions of said tabs andretain said tabs in engagement with said other handle, said handlesbeing formed with openings to receive the fingers of the person carryingthe box, the upper edge of the opening in said other handle extendingbelow the upper edge of the opening in the first handle.

4. A box of th character described, comprising a bottom wall, side wallsand end walls, a pair of cover sections extending from the side wallsand formed with mutually contacting upstanding handles, said handlesex'tending substantially entirely across the top of the box, and tabsconnected to sections extending from one cover and located adjacent theends of the handle extending from said cover, forming with said handle,slots receiving the ends of the other handle, said tabs overlying theother cover, said other cover being formed with slits to receiveportions of said tabs, said slits being shaped to form edge portions insaid other cover to engage edge portions of said tabs and retain saidtabs in engagement with said other handle, said handles being formedwith slits producing tabs adapted to be pushed out of the planes of saidhandles to form openings in said handles to receive the fingers of theperson carrying the box, the tab in the other handle extending beneaththe first cover, the tab in the first handle passing through the openingin said other handle, said other handle being formed with a slit'toreceive a portion of the tab in said first handle.

5. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls, a pair of cover sections extending from the sidewalls and formed with mutually contacting upstanding handles, saidhandles extending substantially entirely across the top of the box, andtabs connected to sections extending from one cover and located adjacentthe ends of the handle extending from said cover, forming with saidhandle. slots receiving the ends of the other handle, said tabsoverlying the other cover, said other cover being formed with slits toreceive portions of said tabs, said slits being shaped to form edgeportions in said other cover to engage edge portions of said tabs andretain said tabs in engagement with said other handle, said handlesbeing formed with slits producing tabs adapted to be pushed out of theplanes of said handles to form openings in said handles to receive thefingers oi the person carrying the box, the tab in the other handleextending beneath the first cover, the tab in the first handle passingthrough the opening in said other handle, said other handle being formedwith a slit to receive a portion of the tab in said first handle, theupper edge of the opening in said other handle extending below the upperedge of the opening in the first handle.

6. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, end wallsextending upwardly from said bottom wall, side walls extending upwardlyfrom the sides of said bottom wall, one pair of adjacent ends of saidend walls being provided with interlocking tabs adapted to lie againstthe inner face of one of said side walls, cover sections extendinginwardly from said side walls, mutually contacting upstanding handlesextending from said cover sections, one of said cover sections beingformed with a pair of downwardly extending sections at the ends thereof,hinges connecting said downwardly extending sections with the other pairof adjacent ends of said end walls, and adapted to fold against theinner face of the other of said side walls, said handles extendingsubstantially entirely across the top of said box, and a pair of tabs onsaid downwardly extending sections adjacent the ends of one of thehandles, adapted to interlock the other of said handles, said tabsoverlying said other cover, said other cover being formed with slits toreceive portions of said tabs, 2. pair of hooks at the ends of saidother cover, said end walls being formed with slits to receive saidhooks.

7. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, end wallsextending upwardly .from said-bottom wall, side walls extending upwardlyfrom the sides of said bottom wall, one pair of adjacent ends of saidend walls being provided with interlocking tabs adapted to lie againstthe inner face of one of said side walls, cover sections extendinginwardly from said sid walls, mutually contacting upstanding handlesextending from said cover sections, one of said cover sections beinformed with a pair of downwardly extending sections at the ends thereof,hinges connecting said downwardly extending sections with the other pairof adjacent ends of said end walls, and adapted to fold against theinner face of the other of said side walls, said handles extendingsubstantially entirely cross the top of said box, and a pair of tabs onsaid downwardly extending sections adjacent the ends of one of thehandles, adapted to interlock the other of said handles, said tabsoverlying said other cover, said other cover being formed with slits toreceive portions of said tabs, a pair of hooks at the ends of said othercover, said end walls being formed with slits to receive said hooks,said downwardly extending sections being formed with tongues adapted topass straight down through said slits in said end walls.

8. A box of the character described, comprising a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls, said end walls being slit, a pair of cover sectionsextending from the side walls and formed with mutually contacting,upstanding handles, said handles extending substantially entirely acrossthe top of the box, a pair of sections extending from the ends of one ofthe cover sections, said pair of sections having tongues to engage insaid slits in said end walls, and tabs on said pair of sections formingslots with said cover sections to receive the ends of the handle on theother cover section, said other cover section having slits to receivesaid tabs.

9. A folding box comprising a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, apair of cover sections extending from the side walls and formed withmutually contacting upstanding handles, said handles extendingsubstantially entirely across the top of the box, each of the handlesbeing formed with a central opening and two openings on opposite sidesof the central opening, the openings in one handle registering with theopenings in the other handle, a tab on one cover section passing throughthe central opening in the handle which extends from the other coversection, a pair of hook sections extending from the ends of one coversection, said end walls being formed with slits, each of the slitscomtions which may be pressed inwardly to facilitate ,ceive one fingerof insertion of the hooks through the slits, said hooks being adapted toengage portions of the end walls formed at the junction of the curvedportions of the slits and the inwardly extending portions of the slits.

10. A folding box comprising a bottom wall. side walls and end walls, apair of cover sections extending from the side Walls and formed withmutually contacting upstanding handles, said handles extendingsubstantially entirely across the top of the box, each of the handlesbeing formed with a central opening and two openings on opposite sidesof the central-opening, the openings in on handle registering with theopenings in the other handle, a tab on one cover sec-- tion passingthrough the central opening in the handle which extends from the othercover section, a pair of hook sections extending from the ends of onecover section, said end walls being formed with slits, each of the slitscomprising a bottom curved portion, a portion extending inwardly fromone end of the curved portion, and a portion extending upwardly from oneend of the inwardly extending portion, said hook sections each having ahook portion adapted to be passed through one of the slits, said slitsforming in the end walls, portions which may be pressed inwardly tofacilitate insertion of the hooks through the slits, said hooks beingadapted to engage portions of the end walls formed at the junction ofthe curved portions of the slits and the inwardly extending portions ofthe slits, said central openings being sufilciently wide to receive twofingers, and the openings on opposite sides of the central opening beingadapted to rea person carrying the box.

MURRAY KRETCHMER.

